Folding display-rack.



B. E. SGHMITT. FOLDING DISPLAY RACK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1910.

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V APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 5, 1910. r 989,433. Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

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UNITE EUGENE E. SOI-IIVEITT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR '10 ROGERS-SCHMITT WIRE & IRON (30., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

Application filed. August 5, 1910. Serial No. 575,703.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE E. SOI-IMITT, a citizen. of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Display-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to display stands and racks and has for its object to produce acollapsible rack of simple and improved construction which may be conveniently folded into small compass for storage or shipment and which, when extended for use shall be firm, rigid and capable of supporting heavy weights.

' With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved rack extended for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the rack partially collapsed. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of one of the caster carrying members.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

In the construction of the improved rack two frames A and B constituting platform supports are used. These frames, as well as the remainder of the skeleton structure constituting the rack are made of strap metal, such as iron or steel, and said frames which may be made of any suitable dimensions and of rectangular form are composed of longitudinal bars 5, 5 having end members 6, 6 bent at right angles thereto and connected near their free ends by means of longitudinal bars 7, 7, suitably bolted, riveted or otherwise secured thereto, the end members 6, 6 of each frame being extended to form legs 8, 8 that project beyond the bars or members 7, 7

The frame A which shall be designated as the top frame is provided with legs or supporting members 9 and 10 pivotally connected with said frame adjacent to the rear and front corners thereof respectively. Said legs 9 and 10 are connected together in pairs adjacent to their lower ends by cross pieces or braces 11 which are pivotally connected therewith, thus permitting the structure to be folded by swinging the rear member 5 of the frame A in an upward direction when the legs or supporting members 9 will be carried in the direction of the front legs 10 as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings.

For the purpose of reinforcing the structurc braces are employed; two of these braces 12, 12 which are diagonally disposed to connect the rear member 5 of the frame A with the rear legs 9 are quarter twisted as shown at 13 adjacent to their lower ends. Said lower ends are permanently connected by rivets 12 or other suitable fastening means with the legs 9, while the upper ends of said braces are detachably connected with the frame member 5 by means of bolts 14; these braces, when the structure is to be collapsed, are simply disconnected from the frame member 5, but are otherwise left undisturbed, the disconnection from the frame member 5 being needed to enable the frame A to be turned to an edgewise position. Similar braces 14, quarter twisted adjacent to their lower ends as shown at 15, are pivotally connected at their upper ends with the front member 7 of the frame A, by pivotal members 14, and detachably connected at their lower ends with the legs 10 by bolts 16. The braces 12, 14, it will be seen, are connected, respectively, with the rear and front members 5 and 7 of the frame A and it will be seen that by disconnecting the lower ends of the braces 14 from the legs 10, the said braces may be folded adjacent to the frame member 7 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in which position they will offer no obstruction to the frame A being folded to an edgewise position. Additional diagonal braces 17 are pivotally connected with the legs or supporting members 9 near the upper ends of the latter, the lower extremities of the braces 17 being connected with the legs or supporting members 10, preferably by means of the bolts 16 which also serve to connect the legs 10 with the braces 14; the braces 17 when dis- I connected from the legs may be folded adjacent to the legs 9.

The frames A and B are each reinforced by trusses 18 and 18 which may be riveted or otherwise suitably secured upon the front and rear members 5, '7 and 5, 7 of said frames. The bottom frame B is pivotally connected with the legs or supporting members 10 by fastening members such as bolts or rivets passing through the lugs S, 8,

and which fastening members may serve the additional function of connecting the legs or supporting members 10 with the front ends of the braces or cross bars 11. This construction enables the bottom frame B to be folded upward in close relation to the front legs or supporting members 10, 1.0 as will be seen in Fig. 2.

The legs or supporting members 9 and 10 are provided at their lower ends with casters 19 of any suitable construction, thus enabling the rack, when extended for use to be conveniently moved about; similar casters 20 are mounted upon brackets or supporting members 21 which are connected with the end members 6 of the bottom frame B adjacent to the front corners of the latter.

A display rack constructed as herein described is simple, inexpensive and durable, and it may be readily collapsed into small space for convenience in storing or shipping the same.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described a rectangular top frame, legs pivotally connected with the end members of said top esaaas frame adjacent to the corners thereof, braces pivotally connecting the legs 1n pairs adjacent to their lower ends, diagonal braces pivotally connecting the legs in pairs adjacent to their lower ends, diagonal braces permanently connected with the rear legs and detachably connected with the rear member of the top frame, diagonal braces pivotally connected with the front member of the top frame and detachably connected with the front legs, and braces pivotally connected with the rear legs and detachably connected wit-h the front legs; and a bottom frame pivotally connected with the front legs or supporting members of the top frame near the lower ends of said legs, said bottom frame being provided with brackets or supporting members adjacent to the front corners thereof;

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE E. SCHMITT. Witnesses:

W. R. Rooms, 0. B. GREEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

